Hereford Street residents say they’ve had enough of living next to a property plagued by drug deals, drunken parties, and constant screaming. These incidents occur on a vacant section in Christchurch’s CBD, surrounded by residential apartments.
The property at 300 Hereford Street has been a crime magnet for years. It was once home to an abandoned historic house that caught fire multiple times before being demolished. Now, the site is a hotspot for drug deals, fights, and antisocial behaviour.
A video sent to Chris Lynch Media shows a man and a woman engaging in a physical altercation.
Ecan Councillor and inner-city resident Deon Swiggs said, “I’ve seen a number of increases in some of those activities around certain areas in the central city.”
Residents Chris Lynch Media spoke to did not want to appear on camera but said, “No one is helping these people.”
Swiggs added, “It begs the question, what are the services available to these people? I know there are some homelessness services, but are they able to cope with the influx of people finding it really challenging at the moment?”
It appears no agency is stepping in, despite ongoing trespassing. When Chris Lynch Media visited the site, no one was present, but makeshift shelters remained. The property has no running water or toilet facilities.
The City Mission, located nearby, said their street outreach team has noticed an increase in people sleeping rough across Christchurch. “Definitely, in the last six months or so, there’s been what you could perceive as an increase in homelessness, especially around the central city.”
The Christchurch City Council is also aware of the property. In a statement, it said, “The Council has received four complaints over the past year relating to the overgrown section, drug use on-site, and a displaced person living there.”
So, who is helping these people?
The Council explained that “the legislation regulating these activities is not administered by the Council. The complainants and the property owner have been advised to contact police regarding the illegal activity occurring on the site.”
This explanation offers little comfort to frustrated residents.
Police confirmed they are aware of the property. In a statement, they said, “Anyone found lingering on it could potentially be trespassing. We recommend anyone who sees suspicious behaviour to call 111 immediately.”
Adding to the frustration, the Council said it has not received any formal application from the private owner to develop the site.
